Automatically-reclosing circuit breaker



June 24, 1924. 1,498,695

E. c. RANEY AUTOMATICALLY RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 9, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l A f i 6 K 3! D -E [I U I D c c l V I NV EN TOR.

/'June 24. 1924. 1,498,695

E. C. RANEY AUTOMATICALLY RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Bay 9, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 mm 1 NVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 24, 1924.

UNITED STATES ESTEL 0. mm, 01 COLUMBUS, OHIO.

AUTOnTICAILY-RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application fled Kay 9, 1828. Serial 1T0. 837,816.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Esran C. RANEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residingat Columbus, in the county of Frank 5 lin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Automatically-Reclosing Circuit Breakers, of which the followin is a specification.

My invention re ates to automatically reclosing circuit breakers and has to do particularly with the provision of a peculiarly sensitive reclosing mechanism that is nevertheless fully guarded against any operation 7 except when the proper conditions exist for the closing of the breaker.

Briefly stated, I have provided a means for controlling reclosure of the breaker of such a nature that the breaker will be locked against reclosure as long as a short circuit exists regardless of fluctuation of the supply or line'voltage and yet-" 'be operative W eneverthe short circuit is removed sufliciently so that the load voltage reaches a prede tel-mined value.

pect of my invention c hat it is operable automatically from either side. In other words, it makes no difference whether the current is supplied from one side of the breaker or the other or whether it is supplied from both,

. reclosing will be effected automatically when the short circuit is removed and the load voltage reaches apredetermined amount.

One specific form of my invention consists in the provision of a controlling means that is maintained inoperative by electrically maintaining it in a state of balance or equi-' librium and that can only be operative by disturbing such balance or equilibrium 40 with the result that an extreme of sensitiveness is attainable, while a means is provided for precluding operation to reclose the breaker until a definite load voltage exists.

In theform. shown, the balanced condition is produced by two coils which are so wound and connected that they balance each other as long as ashort circuit exists butare thrown out of balance upon the removal of the short circuit, because of the fact that the 59 increased load resistance automaticall erates to efiect an increase of voltage ing applied to one of said coils and the,simul-' nets which operate upon armatures carried upon a pivoted switch element and serve to prevent closing of this switch element when they are balanced electrically, that is, when the short circuit exists. Complemental to this structure, is an adjustable spring element and an adjustable stop for purposes to be described. This'structure is adjustable to ensure that the breaker will reclose whenever a volta e of a predetermined value arises in the load circuit.

The preferred form of my invention is shown in the accompanying .drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein Figure 1 is a view of an automatically reclosing circuit breaker with a complete diagram of circuit connections for the op eration of the present invention and showing the condition of circuits with the breaker closed.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the circuits of the controlling device under short circuit conditions.

Figure 3 is a simplified diagram omitting thecircuits of the circuit breaker and illustrating the condition of the circuit when 600 volts potential exists between feeders A and C and a short circuit exists between feeders B and C.

Figure 4 is a diagram like Figure 3 except that it is assumed that the short circuit has been removed and a load resistance of .69 ohms is connected between feeders B and C. v

Figure 5 is a diagram like that of Figures 3 and 4, except that it is assumed that the line or supply voltage is reduced to 400 volts while a short circuit exists between feeders B and C. i

Figure 6 is a diagram like that in Fi ure 5, except that it is assumed that the oad resistance has increased to 1.05 ohms between feedersB and O.

Figure 7 "is a diagram illustrating the application of my improvement to a three wire system of distribution.

In the drawings, I have shown my invention' applied to an electrically operated circuit breaker mechanism in which the 'connections are so made that the breaker will operate-when used either in a system where the breaker is used to supply current, in one direction only, or where the current is fed in one direction at times and in opposite directions at other times, or where the breaker is used to connect two sections independently supplied.

Referring specifically to Figures "1 and 2, a main contact element 1 is nominally held in contact with terminals 2 and 3 by the action of a coil 4. In the event of a short circuit or overload, the overload coil 5 opens the circuit of the coil 4 by lifting the contact 6. This results in the immediate opening of the main contact 1 and the closing of the coil 7 through the contact 8. Coil 7 in turn closes the contact 9 after a delay of a time interval due to the retarding action of dash-pot 10 or an equivalent device.

When the breaker is thus opened, the main terminals thereof are bridged by a resistance element formed in two equal sections D and E, connected together at K. The controlling means for the reclosing mechanism comprises coils 17 and 18.

Figure 2 shows the circuits after a short circuit has caused the breaker to open, and

the time interval provided by dash-pot 10 has elapsed The closing coil 4 has a resistance element 11 interposed in its circuit of such value as to reduce the current in coil 4 below the value necessary to effect reclosure, but of suflicient value to maintain contact 1 closed after reaching the closed position.

The reclosure of the breaker is dependent uponthe operation of switch mechanism 12 to close the'circuit, thus shunting out coil 11 and subjecting coil 4 to an operativepotential.

Switch 12 is operated by the movement of a non-magnetic bar pivoted at 14, and carrying an armature at either end as 15 and 16, which are under the influence of coils 17, and 18. An adjustable stop'19 is provided so that armatures 15 and 16 may e adjusted equidistant from coils 1.7 and 18 in order that they will be equally attracted when coils 17 and 18 are subjected to equal voltages. An adjustable spring 20 is also used to regulate the voltage necessary to close the switch 12.

Coil 17 is connected to points K which is the mid point of the two equal resistance elements D and E, coil 18 is connected in parallel to the resistance element D and therefore subjected to the same potential tween A and G. While equal pulls are exerted by coils 17 and 18 there will be no movement of switch 12, however when the pull of coil 17 becomes stronger than that of coil 18 due to the removal of the short circuit and a resultant increase of potential between B and C to a predetermined value, armature 15 will be moved toward coil 17 resulting in the closure of switch 12, and the final closure of main contact 1, by action of coil 4. j

At the instant of closure of contact 1, the contact 8 will open the-circuit of coil 7, which in turn opens contact 9- and de-energizes coil 17 ,,resulting in the introduction of resistance'11 again in the circuit of coil 4.

The functioning of my controlling device, under a short circuit condition, is clearly illustrated in Figure #3, in which case we have assumed a potential of 600 volts existing between feeders A and G. Since a short circuit exists between feeders B and C, the potential between sections A and B will also be 600 volts. Since resistance elements D and E are equal and coils 17 and 18 have an equal resistance, there will be a potential difference of 300 volts between points A and K and K and B. Also since B and C are of the same potential there will be a potential of 300 volts between points K and line C. It is thus apparent that so long as a short circuit condition exists coils 17 and 18 will each have an /equal voltage applied to them and the non-magnetic bar will be.

tween sections A and B is reduced to 580 volts and since coils 17 and 18 are of equal resistance and the resistance of coils 17 and 18 is very high as compared to that of D and E, this potential of 580 volts will be practically equally distributed between resistance sections D and E, Therefore it may be assumed for practical purposes that the drop of potential from section A to point K is 290 volts, which, subtracted from 600 volts, leaves a drop'of potential between point K and line Cof 310 volts. It is thus evident that coil 17 will now be subjected to a potential of 310 volts while coil 18,

being connected directly in parallel with resistance section D which has a potential drop of 296 volts, the potential applied to coil 18 will be identical to that of resistance D 01; in this instance 290 volts. It is now apparent that coil 17 is subjected to a higher voltage than coil 18 by an amount of volts. In this illustration we have assumed that the tension of spring 20 is so adjusted that contact 12 will close when the difference in the voltages supplied to the two co ls 17 and 18 is 20 volts. The operation of this switch will then shunt out the resistance 11, Figure 1, and apply operative voltage to coil 4. These conditions therefore represent an operative condition.

Referring further to Figures 5 and 6, we will show that the breaker in this case will also be operative when the load resistance is of such a value as to cause a potential of 20 volts to exist between sections Band C although the potential existing between section A and C in each of these figures is assumed to be 400 volts instead of 600 volts as was the case in Figures 3 and 4.

Referring particularly to Figure #5 we have assumed that a difference of potential of 400 volts exists between sections A and G and since a short circuit connects B and C, making them of the same potential, there coil 17 and 18 are each subject to an equal Cal potential of 200 volts.

In Figure #6 it is assumed that the load resistance has increased to such a value as to produce a potential difl'erence of 20 volts between B and C due to flow of current thru resistance sections D and E, and the load resistance. In this case since there is 20 volt drop between B and C and 400 volts between'A and C the potential existing be-. tween section A and B is now reduced to 380 volts, one-half of which occurs in section D and one-half occurring in section E. Since there is a dro of potential of 190 volts between points and K there will exist a potential difference between K and C of 400 volts minus 190 volts, or 210 volts. It-is now apparent that coil 17 is subjected to a potential of 210 volts while coil 18 has only 190 volts potential. These coils will therefore have an unbalanced attraction on pivoted bar of switch'12 and with the same tension of the spring 20 as was assumed previously, the contact switch 12 will be closed and cause the operation of the breaker.

It can be similarly demonstrated that for any chosen value of potential between sections A and C that coils 17 and 18 will bein balance or subject to the same voltage so longas a short circuit exists between section B and C," and for any condition other than a short circuit the difference of voltage applied to coils 17 and 18 will be equal to the difference of potential existing between B and C. This is due to the fact that coil 17 being connected midway between A and B, the increase of potential from K to C will be one-half as much as the increase of potential between B and C. Also the decrease of potential across section D will always be one-half of the decrease of potential between A and B, thus making the differenoe in potentials applied to coils 17 and 18 equal to the potential between section B wa C- Figure 7 shows the application of this scheme of control to a three wire system of distribution. The coils 17 and 18 in this case control the reclosing mechanism of the breaker so that the breaker is held open regardless of fluctuation of the supply voltage so long as a short circuit exists between any two wires, the breaker being closed however whenever load volt-age rises to a predetermined voltage by removal of the short circuit. For

the sake of clearness other operating details have been omitted and only the principal connections shown which constitute the principal part of this invention.

It is apparent that I have provided a controlling means for automatically governing the reclosure of an automatically reclosing circuit breaker which will not be affected by fluctuations of supply voltage as long as the short circuit remains. It will also be obvious that the device being in a state of shortcircuit between sections A and C andwould be governed in its reclosin same manner as heretofore describ While the foregoing describes my favorite method of utilizing this principle I would not wish to limit the scope of this invention to the specific arrangement shown in the diagram as it is apparent that equivalent results could be obtained without dc arting from the principle of my invention connecting coil 18 to a point other than and changing the proportion of the lever arm of the switch 12 from its central position, or by changin the relative resistance values of coils 17 an 18, or in fact by numerous arrangements not necessary to describe here- 1 in the It will be obvious that that winding 18 which is shown connected in parallel with a portion of the resistance DE can be so arranged that it will be connected in parallel with all or any portion of said resistance without departing from my invention. In the event that this change were made, the windings 17 and 18 could be so proportioned as to compensate for this alteration in connections so that the same results can be obtained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i

1. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main contact member, main terminals means for bridging said main terminals by a resistance element when said main contact member is open, means for governing the reclosure of said member having one winding connected to substantially the mid point of said bridging resistance and having a-second winding connected in parallel with a portion of said bridging resistance.

2. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main contact member, main terminals, means for, bridging said main terminals by a resistance element when said main contact member is open, means for governing the reclosure of said member having one winding connected to substantially the mid point of said bridging resistance and having a second winding connected in parallel with substantially one half of said bridging resistance.

3. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main contact member, main terminals, means for bridging, said main terminals by a resistance element when said main contact member is open, means for governing the reclosure of said member having one winding connected to substantially the-mid point of said bridging resistance andhaving a second winding connected in parallel with a portion of said bridging resistance and a switch held open by said windings when short circuit exists.

4. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main con- -tact member, main terminals, means for bridging said main terminals by a resistance element when said main contact member is open, meansfor governing the reclosure of said member having one winding connected to substantially the mid point of said bridg ing resistance and havinga second winding connected in parallel with a portidn of said bridging resistance, and a switch so related to said windings that 'it will be automatically closed when the short circuit is removed to a predetermined degree. 7

5. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main contact member, main terminals, means for bridging said main terminals by a resistance element when said main contact member is open, means for governing the reclosure of said member having one winding connected to substantially the mid point of said bridging resistance and having a second winding connected in parallel with a portion of said bridging resistance, a switch held open by said winding when short circuit exists regardless of the fluctuation of supply voltage.

6. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main contact member, main terminals, means for bridging said main terminals by a resistance element when said main contact'member is open, means for governing the reclosure of said member having one winding connected to substantially the mid point of said bridging resistance and having a second winding connected in parallel with a portion of said bridging resistance and a switch so related to said windings that it will be automatically closed when the short circuit is removed to a predetermined degree regardless of the fluctuation of supply voltage.

7. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main contact member, main terminals, means for bridging said main terminals by'a resistance element when said main contact member is open, means for governing the reclosure of said memberhaving one winding connected to substantially the mid point of said bridging resistance and having a second winding connected in parallel with a portion of said bridging resistance and a switch so related to said windings that it will be held open when. short circuit exists and will be automatically closed when the short circuit is removed to a predetermined degree.

8. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker'mechanism comprising a main contact member, main terminals, means for bridging said main terminals by a resistance element when said main contact member is open, means for governing the reclosure of said member having one winding connected to substantially the mid point of said bridging resistance and having a second winding connected in parallel with a portion of said bridging resistance, a switch so related to said windings that it will be held open when short circuit exists and will be automaticall closed when the short circuit is removed to a predetermined degree, and means for adjusting the degree.

9. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main contact member, main terminals, means for bridging said main terminals by a resistremoved to a predetermined degree and means'for adjusting the degree.

10. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main contact member, main terminals, means for bridging said main terminals by a resistance element when said main contact member-is open, means for governing the reclosure of said member having one winding connected to substantially the mid point of said bridging resistance and having a second winding connected in parallel with a portion of said bridging resistance and a switchso related to said windings that it will be held open when short circuit exists and will be automatically closed when the short circuit is removed to a predetermined 'de ree regardless of the fluctuation of supp y voltage.

11. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main contact member, main terminals, means for bridging said mainterminals by a resistance element when said main contact member is open, means for governing the reclosure of said member having one winding connected to substantially the mid point of said bridging resistance and having a second winding connected in parallel with a portion of said bridging resistance, a switch so related to said windings that it will be held open when short circuit exists and will be automatically closed when the short circuit isremoved to a predetermined degree regardlessof the fluctuation of supply voltage and means for adjusting the degree.

12. Means for controlling the reclosing of an automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising windings automatically responsive to a definite difference in relatlve potentials of said windings. 13. Means for controlling the reclosin of an automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising windings unresponsive to flue-- tuatlon of supply voltage but responsive to a definite difl'erence in relative potentials of said windings. I

14. Means for controlling the reclosing of an automatically reclosing }circuit breaker comprising windin automatically responsive to a definite di erence in relative potentials of said windings, and means for adjusting the degree of difference necessary before operationof the controlhng means occurs.

15. Means for controlling the reclosing of an automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising windings unresponsive to fluctuation of supply voltage but automatically responsive to a definite difference in relative potentials of said windings, and means for adjusting the degree of dlflerence necessary before operation of the controllmg means occurs.

16. A means for controlling the reclosing of an automatically reclosing circuit breaker of such a nature and so arranged and connected that, whichever main breaker terminal is connected to the load circuit, the

breaker will reclose whenever the potential ofthe load side of the breaker is raised to a predetermined value irrespective of voltage fluctuations on the supply side.

17. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism having its main terminals bridged by a resistance element, a reclosing mechanism of such a nature and so arranged and connected that when either main breaker terminal is connected to a load circuit and the other main terminal is connected to a source of supply, the breaker will reclose whenever the potential of the load side of the breaker is raised to a predetermined value, irrespective of voltage fluctuations on the supply side.

18. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism having a reclosing mechanism of such a nature and so arranged and connected that when either main terminal of the breaker is connected to a load circuit and the other main terminal is connected to a source of "supply that the controlling means will be equally efi'ective to lock out on short circuit irrespective of voltage fluctuations on the supply side and to cause reclosure of the breaker whenever the potential of the load side of the breaker is raised to a predetermined value.

19. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising a main contact member, reclosing mechanism, and a controlling means comprising balanced coils which are subject to equal voltages regardless of variation in line voltage as long as a short circuit exists but which are subject to different breaker comprising a main contact member,

reclosin mechanism, a controlling means comprising balanced coils which are subject to equal voltages regardless of'variation in line voltage as long as a short circuit exists but which are subject to diflerent voltages when the short circuit is removed to effect the. operation of said reclosing means and means for determining the degree of unbalance necessary for operation'of said controlling means.

21. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprisinga ms in contact member, reclosin mechanism, a controlling means comprising balanced coils which are subject to equal voltages regardless of variation in line voltage as lon as a short circuit exists but which are sub ect to different voltages when the short circuit is removed for. the operation of said reclosin means and a switch operated by said coils when unbalanced to bring about operation of said reclosing means.

22. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising a main contact member, reclosin mechanism, a controlling means comprising balanced coils which are subject .to equal voltages regardless of variation in closing means, said switch being adjustable as to the degree of unbalance necessary for operation.

23. A controlling means for an automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising windings which are subject to voltages which remain proportional regardless of variation in line voltage as long as a short circuit exists but which proportion is changed'as soon as short circuit is removed, this change of relative voltage being effective when at a given amount to cause closing of a switch.

24. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising a main contact member, reclosing mechanism governed automatically by circuit conditions, said mechanism being such that it will remain inoperative as long as short circuit exists regardless of fluctuation of supply voltage but will be come operative when short circuit is removed to a predetermined degree, means for adjusting said degree, and means for render- 1n said control operative by potential applied to either terminal of said breaker.

25. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising a main contact member, reclosing mechanism, and a plurality of windings for governing said reclosing mechanism, said last windings being so arranged and connected that removal of a short circuit automatically decreases the voltage applied to one winding and increases the voltage applied to another winding.

26. An automatically! reclosing circuit breaker comprising amain contact member, reclosing mechanlsm, and a plurality of windings for mechanism, said last windings being so arranged and connected that removal of a short circuit automatically changes the relations between voltages being'applied to said windin s.

27. A controlling means for an automatically reclosing circuit breaker, having its windings so connected that it is inoperative so long as a short circuit exists regardless of voltage fluctuations on the supply side of the breaker and regardless of whlch terminal of the breaker is connected to the supply side.

28.. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker mechanism having its main terals bridged by a resistance element, a-

controlling means so connected that when either mam breaker terminal is connected to governing said reclosing incense a load circuit and the other main terminal is connected to a source of supply, the controlling means will be equally eiiective to lock out on short circuit and to cause reclosure of the breaker Whenever the potential of the load side of breaker is raised to a predetermined value, irrespective of voltage uctuations on the supply side.

29. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising a main contact member, reclosing mechanism, a resistance across the main contact member when the breaker is open, and means for governing said reclosing mechanism, said governing means hav-: ing two windings, one of which is connected in parallel with a portion of said resistance, an the other winding connected so as to form a parallel circuit to a portion of said resistance and the load.

30. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising a main contact member, reclosing mechanism, means for governing said reclosin mechanism, and means for neutralizing t e action of said governing means, when short circuit exists and. of permitting it to operate when the short circuit is removed to a predetermined degree and means for so connecting said governing and neutralizing means that they will be equally responsive in operation, regardless of which side of the breaker constitutes the load side.

31. An automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising a main contact member, reclosing mechanism, a. coil for controlling the operation of said reclosing mechanism, a resistance across the main contact member when the breaker is open, means for governing said controlling coil, and means for neutralizin the efi'ect of said controlling coil when s iort circuit exists and permitting it to operate when the short circuit is removed to a predetermined degree, and means for so connecting said governing and neutralizing means that they will be equally responsive in operation, regardless of which side of the breaker constitutes the load side.

32. A controlling means for an automatically reclosing circuit breaker having a plurality of windings so arranged and connected that the actions of said windings are neutralized so long as a short circuit exists, and means for so connecting said controlling means that it will be equally responsive in operation, regardless of which side ofthe breaker constitutes the load side.

33. A controlling means foran automatically reclosing circuit breaker having a plurality of windings so arranged and connected that the actions of said windings are neutralized so long as a short circuit exists, said windings being correspondingly affected by voltage fluctuations of the supply current, and means for so connecting said controlling means that it will be equally responsive in operation, regardless of which side of the breaker constitutes the load side.

34. Means for governing the reclosing of an automatically reclosing circuit breaker, comprising a winding whose action is to effeet the closure of the breaker, another winding whose action is to restrain the action of the first mentioned winding so long as a short circuit exists, and means for so connecting said windings that they will be equally responsive in operation, regardless of which side of the breaker constitutes the load side.

35. Means for governing the reclosing of an automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising a winding-whose action is to effoot the closure of the breaker but whose action is restrained by another winding so long as a short circuit exists, the action of said windings being proportionally affected by voltage variations.

36. A means for controlling the reclosing of an automatically reclosing circuit breaker .of such a nature and so arranged and connected that, whichever main breaker terminal is connected to the load circuit, the breaker will reclose whenever the potential of the load side of the breaker is raised to a predetermined value irrespective of voltage fluctations on the supply side, and means for adjusting to vary the voltage required.

37. In a system of electrical distribution, an automatically reclosing circuit breaker, a controlling means comprising a plurality of windings, one of which is subject to an increase of potential and the other of "which is subject to a decrease of potential as the short-circuit is removed.

38. In a system of electrical distribution, an automatically reclosing circuit breaker, a controlling means comprising a plurality of windings, one of which is subject to an increase of potential and the other of which is subject to a decrease of potential as the short-circuit is removed, said means being so connected that the voltage impressed on such windings is increased as the supply voltage increases.

39. In a system of electrical distribution, an automatically reclosing circuit breaker, a controlling means comprising a plurality of windings, one of which is subject to an increase 0 potential and the other of which is subject to a decrease of potential as the short-circuit is removed, said means being so connected that the voltage impressed on such windings will decrease as the supply voltage decreases.

40. Means for controlling the reclosing of an automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising windings which are balanced against operation by such potential as is applied thereto as long as a short-circuit exists but which are unbalanced to effect operation when such short-circuit is removed to a predetermined degree.

41. Means for controlling the reclosing of an automatically reclosing circuit breaker comprising windings which are balanced against operation as long as a short-circuit exists regardless of fluctuation of supply voltage, but which are unbalanced to effect operation whenever such short-circuit is removed to a predetermined degree.

42. An automatically .reclosing circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main contact member, a means for automatically reclosing said main contact member, said means being operative in response to increase in load resistance to a predetermined value but being inoperative in response to fluctuation of supplied voltage as long as i said load resistance is below such predetermined value.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

ESTEL C. RANEY 

